|    Hakim Hayat    |

WITH the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat has taken over the reins as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) from Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah.

At a Change of Command Parade held at the Rimba Air Force Base yesterday, the outgoing Commander of RBAirF received the honorary salute and proceeded to inspect the guard of honour mounted by 109 RBAirF personnel, led by Major (U) Pengiran Mohammad Azizul bin Pengiran Mohammad Yussof. The parade was witnessed by senior officers, officers, airmen, airwomen and non-uniformed personnel of the RBAirF.

In his speech as the outgoing 13^th Commander of the RBAirF, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar expressed his utmost gratitude towards His Majesty for the trust bestowed upon him during his three-year tenure as Commander of RBAirF. He also extended his appreciation to all members of the RBAirF for their support throughout his service.

Emphasising that human resource is important and critical to the development of a credible organisation, the outgoing commander highlighted three traits – honesty, trust, and loyalty – that are essential for every member of the force to build up a strong RBAirF anchored on its core values.

A signing ceremony for the handover of duties was later held between the outgoing RBAirF Commander and the new RBAirF Commander, which marked the official handover, before the recitation of Doa Selamat and the farewell honorary salute.

The ceremony proceeded with the new Commander of RBAirF receiving the honourary salute and inspecting the guard of honour followed by his inaugural speech as the 14^th Commander of the RBAirF.

In his speech, the new RBAirF Commander conveyed his utmost gratitude towards His Majesty for entrusting him with the responsibility as the new commander of the air force. He also thanked Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar for his contributions in developing the RBAirF as it is today.

The new commander also emphasised the importance of teamwork, commitment and discipline as well as the spiritual values based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) philosophy.

The new RBAirF commander then ushered Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar to a tree-planting ceremony witnessed by officers of the RBAirF.

Bidding farewell, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar marched together with the officers, airmen and airwomen of the RBAirF to the Air Movement Centre prior to his final flight on a Blackhawk helicopter.

Enlisting into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1986, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar has dedicated 32 years of his life serving the RBAirF with distinction.

He started his operational flying career at No 1 Squadron, Operations Wing (now known as 11 Squadron, No 1 Wing).

He has also received notable appointments during his service such as Commanding Officer (CO) of Training Wing (now known as No 7 Wing) in the RBAirF, Defence Adviser of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia and Director of Force Capability Development, prior to becoming Deputy Commander of RBAirF and eventually, Commander of RBAirF. On August 10, 2018, by the command of His Majesty, he was appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

Prior to his new appointment, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah held the position of Joint Force Commander of the RBAF since 2014.

He joined in 1988 and graduated from Initial Officer Training from Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell, United Kingdom.

During the course of his military career, he has served, among others, as Officer Commanding (OC) of the Flying Training School (FTS), Commanding Officer (CO) of Operation Wing and Chief of Staff of Joint Force Headquarters.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

BRUNEI is increasingly seeing its youth taking the plunge into the entrepreneurial world. Many of these start-ups are now thriving despite initial teething troubles; some to the extent that they’ve even opened their second or third outlets.

Even so, one is amazed and inspired when one comes to know the story of a 13-year-old local girl who decided to open her own shawl shop.

In an interview with the Sunday Bulletin, Adriana, a student at Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, sounded more like an adult businesswoman rather than your typical high school teenager, talking at length about modern business skills, serving customers with a difference, creating core business values and business branding.

The young entrepreneur said she started her shawl business – subsequently named Adreana Shawls – at the tender age of 11. By age 12, she has already mastered the skill of listening to customers, creating and building a brand, and following consumer trends.

Adriana added that she is the sole person running her business, and does not rely on her parents other than for moral support or encouragement.

She tells us that Adreana Shawls was established sometime in December 2016, and that before that year, she already had some experience doing business by participating in ‘Tutong FoodCon’ – a district bazaar held frequently in the Tutong District.

“My involvement at Tutong FoodCon began as a hobby, because as a child I also loved cooking. This hobby eventually grew into a business called Adreana Bakery,” she explained.

She explained that her shawl business came about when she started seeing the fun of wearing shawls and noticed the increasing demand for the fashion accessory, which ignited her entrepreneurial spirit.

“My parents loaned me BND200 for my initial capital to sell shawls. It sounds like a small amount but it was enough for me. From that, I learnt a lot about the benefits of starting small, because if you spend too much money at the start, I believe you might think of profits straight away, and that can be risky in this type of business,” Adriana said.

Armed with her modest seed money, Adriana added 60 plain shawls to her inventory, made of a chiffon material, which she sold for BND7 each, initially to classmates and relatives.

Once these were sold out, she decided to continue the business and imported more shawls. At this point, she was already thinking of creating a brand identity – eventually dubbed ‘Simple Elegance’ – for her products by developing a signature line of beaded headscarf with floral patterns on the corner of each headscarf.

She now works with designers and tailors to produce high-quality handmade beaded headscarves.

“I learnt that customers want to buy products that are associated with a brand identity which has a tag emblem. I believe this is important in the fashion business. We now have the ‘Adreana Shawls’ emblem displayed on all our products, right from the packaging all the way to the ‘thank you’ card, to make our Adreana Shawls brand stand out,” said Adriana.

“Our core business value is to produce elegant headscarves that are of high quality, affordable, stylish and locally-made.”

To date, Adriana has sold more than a hundred of her new beaded headscarf line, along with several hundred basic shawls. She converted a small living room at her family’s home in Manggis into a showroom and office, allowing potential customers to browse and try out the scarves in person.

“But this also creates a challenge for us, because some customers want to buy something that is similar to another design. However, we need to listen to our customers and we try to replicate the scarves as best as we could,” she said, adding that she is looking to diversify the product line.

When asked about her plans for the business going forward, the ambitious teenager said, “Although I am very focussed academically, I am serious about my business.

“In fact, this is what I want to do in the future and the long-term.”

Commenting on the current economic and business climate, she added, “I am aware of the unemployment issues faced by graduates. My entrepreneurship pursuits today can serve as a fallback option should I encounter difficulties when I graduate. It’s reassuring to know I have a business to fall back on.”

The bright young girl said that she has already received business enquiries from Korea and China, and is considering expanding her business beyond Brunei when the time is right.

|     Khairil Hassan     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s Royal Bees showed their prowess defeating Terengganu Darul Iman Netball Team 54-36 in the second series of the netball exposure matches at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

The third and last series of the exposure match will be held tomorrow at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Bolkiah Garrison in Berakas.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC forward Abdul Azizi Rahman inspired his team to a 3-1 victory over Hougang United with a first-half hat-trick in the Singapore Premier League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last night.

The 31-year-old impressed in his first start for the club as the focal point in attack in place of the suspended Volodymyr Pryimov.

The Gegar Gegar men snapped a five-game winless run and in the process reignited their hopes of a second-place finish in the league.

With victory the main requirement against the basement dwellers, DPMM FC with 31 points are five points away from the runners-up spot having played a game less.

The hosts enjoyed a fine start after Abdul Azizi latched onto a fine delivery from Adi Said in the third minute to open his account for the club.

The assist provided a historic milestone to the in-form Adi too who became the first player in the Singapore Premier League to record double digits in both goals and assists.

It was nearly a second goal for the Gegar Gegar men after a ball went close in reaching Shah Razen Said and had it landed three feet closer the outcome would have been most welcomed.

The calmness of Adi Said’s header to Helmi Zambin nearly spelled disaster after Fareez Farhan took control of the ball but fortunately the midfielder hits the side-netting from a tight angle.

Adi was clear in part helped by his electric pace but the forward sliced his shot wide before receiving another opportunity when Shah Razen delivered a precise cross into the middle, but Hougang custodian Ridhuan Barudin thwarted his effort with a smart save.

Azwan Ali Rahman is returning to form with his creativity and ability to mastermind a team-oriented play and he played a short pass despite limited space for the second goal.

Abdul Azizi turned in a flash and produced an expert low finish past the unsighted Ridhuan to double his side’s lead in the 44th minute.

The forward was not done yet to terrorise the visiting defence after connecting a delightful cross from Azwan Ali on the stroke of half-time.

The Cheetahs pulled one back after substitute Fazrul Nawaz brilliantly slotted a composed finish after being set up with a good pass in the 49th minute.

Adi prevented the ball from passing the by-line but Azwan sliced his shot wide while in the other end Iqbal struck a low drive which was dealt with by DPMM FC goalkeeper Haimie anak Nyaring.

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Brunei Technology Expo (TechXpo) 2018 was launched by Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof.

The inauguration of the fifth edition of the expo took place at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas yesterday.

Also present at the launching ceremony were Deputy Minister of Development Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications (MinCom) Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad and Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MinCom Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi.

The TechXpo 2018 is organised by InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB), a non-profit organisation which serves as the voice of Brunei Darussalam’s ICT industry together with D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd as the appointed event manager.

The four-day event, which will run until August 21 with the theme ‘Innovative Technology For All’, aims to provide a platform for showcasing products, services, trends, developments and ideas associated with technology from Brunei and all across the globe.

In its efforts to make Brunei Darussalam a ‘Smart Nation’ in the era of current digital economy, the Brunei National Road Safety Council is also participating in the event where MinCom, as supporter of the expo, has been given the opportunity to raise public awareness on road safety.

Through the collaboration with motor vehicle dealers in the country, MinCom strives to emphasise how technology facilitates and serves as enabler to ensure safe driving of vehicles that are equipped with sophisticated and advanced technology.

At the expo, MinCom also showcases roles of technology in meteorological equipment and how it allows the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department to forecast and issue weather warnings. This is also where technology is used through Brunei WX mobile application and social media for the safety of all road users and the public in general.

During the ceremony, the Minister of Communications also launched one of the main highlights of TechXpo 2018 – the TechXpo Cyber Games Tournament 2018 – organised by D’Sunlit in association with Sigma Cyberspace as the event manager.

A record pool of BND15,000 worth of cash prizes are to be won across seven games in which over 100 teams are competing in PC Games (CS:GO, League of Legends, and DOTA 2), Console Games (Tekken 7 and FIFA 18) and Mobile Games (Mobile Legends and Rules of Survival).

Throughout the event, the public can also meet and interact with the humanoid robot Zora of Belgian-based robotics company ZoraBots.

In an effort to extend the scope and deepen the impact of ICT in line with the emerging technologies, the TechXpo 2018 also features artificial intelligence through robotics, Internet of Things, virtual reality, cybersecurity, home-connectivity and others.

The expo is also organising a lucky draw for the public in which visitors can stand a chance to win Microsoft Surface Pro 4, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, Acer Travel Mate P249 and other exciting prizes.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

AS part of its continuous growth and diversification in different sectors, Poni Divers held a ‘Tec Night’ seminar at Balkony Café in Kiulap last Saturday.

Managing Director of Poni Divers and Xinstec Wong Thye Sing began the seminar by introducing what technical diving is about and how to get into it. He also discussed the different technical associations and talked about the history of technical wreck discovery in Brunei by the British Sub Aqua Club back in the 1980s.

Technical diving is diving deeper than 40 metres or dives that require decompression stop or using mixed gases, or diving with no open access to the surface.

Xinstec is the sister company of Poni Divers that focusses primarily on technical diving.

Following Wong’s presentation, Xinstec Technical Diving Director Shinichi Sawaumi explained about rebreather diving and how to get certified for it.

Sawaumi became a JJ-CCR instructor in 2011 under Dave Thompson, the co-creator of JJ-CCR. Having retired from the corporate world in the early 2000s, Sawaumi had been a part of the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) SEASIA for some time and now runs IANTD open circuit and International Association of Rebreather Trainers (IART) JJ-CCR courses out of Xinstec Brunei and Xinstec Bali, (Poni Divers’ sister company in Bali, Indonesia).

Hailing from Japan, Sawaumi has conducted various JJ-CCR courses in Brunei, and under Xinstec, they had welcomed divers from Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China to Brunei Darussalam in just the last two months.

In his presentation, Sawaumi explained that rebreathers were originally seen only as military equipment or as potential rescue units from mines and submarines.

Also presenting was Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) Instructor Jimmy Choo from Singapore who spoke about cave diving as well as GUE and their fundamentals.

Choo explained that GUE is a non-profit organisation formed by leading explorers, researchers and educators in 1998 to increase the quality of aquatic education. This being his first visit to Brunei, he hoped to introduce more Bruneians to the organisation.

Diving was put in the forefront after last month’s extraordinary story where 12 Thai boys and their young football coach got trapped in a flooded cave for over two weeks before being rescued, resulting in heightened interest in cave diving and diving in general since then.

Xinstec has been officially launched this year together with their updated website (xinstec.com) with active participation in media publications and expos, namely the Diving Resort and Travel (DRT) expos in Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) in Singapore and Malaysian International Dive Expo (MIDE) in Kuala Lumpur.

This is to promote the Sultanate as a technical diving destination, given the ever growing interest in diving and with the word getting out that Brunei ranks as a top technical wreck diving destination.

For Poni Divers Club members, the seminar was one among a series of events held this year to promote diving in Brunei, given the latest promotion of diving courses available providing a great opportunity for those wanting to learn and take up diving.

|     Aziz Idris     |

NBT Brunei Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Lexus and Toyota vehicles in the Sultanate unveiled their award-winning luxury sedan with the launch of the 7^th Generation Lexus ES250 at the Lexus Showroom in Gadong on Friday night.

Present at the launch was NBT Executive Deputy Chairman Ninan Chacko.

Also present were NBT Deputy Managing Director Haji Ahmad Omar bin Haji Husin, NBT Senior General Sales Manager Leong Cheng Soon and invited guests.

Prior to the launch, Lexus Sales Executive Pengiran Ariulhisham bin Pengiran Johnis outlined some of the latest innovations and key safety features of the newest Lexus model.

He explained that the design of the all-new ES250 follows a “coupe-like silhouette”, resulting in a sharpened performance, with class-leading safety technology and top level of craftmanship.

The sales executive also highlighted the all-new Global Architecture-K (GA-K) chassis and suspension system, which provide precise handling and dynamic responsiveness, allowing drivers to experience an elegant and smooth drive, distinctive of a Lexus driving performance.

The all-new 2019 Lexus ES is also built to deliver a higher level of driving dynamics than any of its predecessors with a wider (+45mm) and lower (-5mm) design.

This is combined with enhanced efficiency of Lexus’s first eight-speed direct-shift automatic transmission for a smarter, sharper gear shifting to achieve optimum speed and acceleration.

Also a first for Lexus is the 2.5 -litre new engine, which delivers outstanding fuel efficiency, and an exhilarating feel that enhances the driving pleasure, without compromising performance.

The interior of the ES250 blends a driver-centric cockpit with a spacious and comfortable area for drivers and passengers, complemented with intriguing details that capture the essence of Takumi craftsmanship through the embedded depth and pitch of the stitches.

Safety comes first with the Lexus ES, which incorporates advanced safety technologies such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), a pop-up hood system feature in the event of a pedestrian interaction, and a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with 10 SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Airbags.

Lexus Brunei will bring in two versions of the ES, the ES 250 and ES 300h, with the hybrid version arriving in a few weeks.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

MINISTER of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein yesterday launched PHH Gas and Chemical Sdn Bhd’s Micro Filling Gas Plant. The gas plant is situated at Pulau Muara Besar (PMB) and it is the first wholly Bruneian-owned plant producing oxygen and argon.

It is a wholly owned local Bumiputra company – the first to have a gas plant – which seeks to assist in the fast transformation of PMB into a mammoth industrial site with world-class port facilities.

The gas plant is a collaboration between PHH Gas and Chemical and Linde EOX Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. PHH Gas and Chemical is the first local company to be awarded a Micro Filling Gas Plant by Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd.

In her welcoming address during the launching ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PHH Gas and Chemical Pengiran Hasrena binti Pengiran Haji Hassan said, “PHH Gas and Chemical Sdn Bhd was only formed last year collaborating with Linde EOX. It was a breakthrough when we won the bid to supply industrial gases. We supply industrial gas to the island – better known as the Pulau Muara Besar Project.

“We are fully committed to the quality of our products and services where safety is foremost,” she noted.

“Linde helps to ensure that our staff are trained professionals through the transfer of knowledge providing technical knowhow on the job. We at PHH will continue to equip and train our workforce.

“In looking after their staff’s welfare and well-being, we organise several activities off the island to help keep everyone fit and healthy – mentally, spiritually and physically.”

Endorsing the company’s stand in supporting the Brunei Vision 2035 goal of local business development, she said, “Eventually we also hoped to increase our workforce and more Bruneian youth would be encouraged and attracted to work with us. With us at PHH Group of Companies, our goals are to be progressive, honest and harmonious.”

PHH Gas and Chemical Sdn Bhd is established and incorporated on November 2017, under the laws and regulatory statutes of Brunei Darussalam.

The collaboration aims to provide employment opportunities while providing training to local staff in the form of knowledge transfer and contribute to the business development target of Brunei Darussalam, a press statement issued by the company said.

In tandem with Brunei Vision 2035, PHH Gas and Chemical Sdn Bhd is encouraging more young locals to join the oil and gas industry. The company also imparts knowledge and work skills towards producing well-educated and highly-skilled people of international standard, the statement noted.

As Brunei Darussalam targets to become self-sufficient in petroleum productions for local consumption, there will be much emphasis on the refining of crude oil. It is an industry that can go far and boost growth with many downstream oil and gas services in the pipeline, the statement noted.

|     Achong Tanjong     |

FOR the past several months, a shortage in supply of fish at the Gadong fish market prompted most of the fishmongers to temporarily close their stalls.

Fishmongers said this is mainly due to unpredictable weather and rough seas, winds and heavy rain.

Most fishermen are not going out to sea because of the bad weather condition.

Most of the fish is supplied from neighbouring Malaysian states of Lawas, Sarawak and Sabah. Currently, the supply of fish is not sufficient to cater to the market demand.

There are only a few types of fish available now such as mackerel (ikan tenggiri), red snapper (ikan merah) and stingray (pari).

|     Bahyiah Bakir     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, yesterday received in audience the new Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to Brunei Darussalam U Htin Lynn.

The ambassador previously served as Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and First Secretary and Counsellor at the Myanmar Embassy in Brunei from 2002-2006.

His Royal Highness exchanged greetings with the ambassador and wished him success in his work.

The audience took place at Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

A SPECIAL reception to celebrate the 72^nd birthday of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was held yesterday at the Royal Berkshire Hall, Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club.

The event was organised by the resident heads of diplomatic missions in Brunei Darussalam.

His Majesty attended the reception, accompanied by Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.

Also present at the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara.

Welcoming Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses were a group of high commissioners, ambassadors and their spouses, led by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Brunei Darussalam Dr Fahad Mashary Al-Thafiri.

Following their arrival at the Royal Berkshire Hall, Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses posed for a group photo session with the heads of diplomatic missions and their spouses.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Brunei Darussalam offered thanks to His Majesty for graciously granting the Diplomatic Corps an opportunity to extend birthday greetings to the monarch.

“On behalf of all the diplomatic missions, I profoundly appreciate all the hospitality, graciousness and friendship that the royal family, members of the government and the people of Brunei Darussalam continue to extend to our diplomatic community,” said Dr Fahad Mashary Al-Thafiri.

His Majesty later consented to receive a pesambah from the Diplomatic Corps – a framed ‘Ancestry Chart’ (Salasilah Sultan-Sultan Brunei) on sandblasted glass with coloured LED lights.

|    Khairil Hassan    |

THE Top Spin Tournament in conjunction with the 72nd birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam concluded yesterday at the Top Spin Arena of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

Jasni Haji Ompak won the Gurau Gasing Borneo Ditanah Open category with the time 10:22s. Md Sufian Haji Lamudin clocked 8:07s to go second while Dahlan Haji Ompak was third and Rosmin Haji Mawang fourth.

Saidi Haji Ismail emerged champion of the Gurau Gasing Pangkah Banyak Uri Open category after recording 24:02s, followed by Jasni Haji Ompak in second place with 18:10s. Md Sufian Haji Lamudin trailed in third and Haji Matzain Haji Lamit at fourth.

In the Gurau Gasing Lunjong Open Category, Haji Matzin Haji Lamit was the longest with 1:59s, followed by Yakop Haji Asmat, Mahadi Haji Asmat and Lit Haji Lisa.

Sapar Haji Abdul Rashid was named champion of the Gurau Gasing Ubah Suai Ditunggol category with the time 69 minutes, while Abdullah bin Bahar in second place with 68 minutes. Third Place went to Lit Haji Lisa and Alimin bin Haji Talip took fourth.

Md Aqmar Izat bin Ismail won the Gurau Gasing Poly Tops (Plastic) Below 13 category, followed by second-placed Md Izim Al Hakim bin Md Yakop and third-placed Md Izat bin Haji Masri. Waie bin Haji Zulkarnain and Naieh bin Haji Jafar settled for fourth and fifth places.

In the Gurau Gasing Poly Tops (Plastic) 14-15 years old category, Md Nazirul Hidayat bin Ismail emerged as the winner after beating second-placed Rusam bin Rosman. Amirul Matin bin Md Yakop was third, followed by Rusdiman bin Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Nabil bin Haji Sabtu at fourth and fifth.

Team Jerudong ‘B’ emerged champion of the Gasing Pangkah Team event, receiving BND500 and a trophy, while Team Lambung Kunyit received the runners-up trophy and BND400. Jerudong ‘A’ was third receiving BND300 and trophy, followed by Putat Villa at fourth place winning BND200 and a trophy. Jerudong C, Jerudong D, Sri Manang and Tamin received consolation prizes.

Permanent Secretary (Municipal and District) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Salminan bin Haji Burut presented the prizes.

Also present were President of the Brunei Darussalam Top Spin Federation Dato Paduka Haji Puasa bin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Tudin along with other executive members of the federation.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s wushu athlete Basma Lachkar is in firm contention of attaining a podium finish after moving into the medal position with 9.68 points in the Women’s Taijiquan event at the 18th Asian Games at the Jakarta International Expo at Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday.

The country’s youngest representative currently sits in joint third place alongside Vietnam’s exponent Thi Khanh Ly Tran and a similar result or better could spark euphoria to the nation.

Basma’s national teammate Ang Guat Lian ended the round in seventh place but is also in the running of bagging a medal with 9.66 points not far off from the pacesetters.

The national wushu athletes are joined by fine company with other competitors having already proven in the world stage and across the continent.

Indonesia hope and world champion Lindswell Kwok currently leads the chasing pack with 9.75 points while Hong Kong’s Juanita Mok Uen-ying, a bronze medallist in the World University Games, trailed closely behind in second place with 9.71 points.

Despite the positioning, wushu athletes are only halfway through with the Women’s Taijijian event which is recognised as a medal event completing the all-around discipline.

The Women’s Taijijian event will also determine the final placings of the podium as athletes make last-ditch efforts to seek for perfection in their pursuit of gold medal success.

Brunei Darussalam will be gunning for a historic fifth medal at the Asian Games with their final medal coming in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan when Tong Kit Siong was awarded bronze in karate.

Indonesia world champion Lindswell, who headlines the wushu circuit and a gold medal favourite, expressed her optimism of landing the gold medal for the hosts despite being surrounded by strong opponents.

“There is still tomorrow (Monday). Today we have just concluded the elimination round. All are tough opponents, especially wushu athletes from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and also Japan. They’re very good,” she told Indonesian magazine Tempo.

Basma and Ang will return to the court in the Women’s Taijijian today (10am Brunei time) knowing that a place in history is in their sights if they make one final push.

The wushu team is accompanied by national head coach Li Hui and he said, “I’m happy with the performances of both athletes. I hope they will do their best in today’s event.”

Meanwhile, Md Sufi Shayiran Roslan and Md Adi Salihin Roslan will begin their campaign in the Men’s Nanquan at the same venue today.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus organised a workshop to train Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) technicians on good practices in servicing refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems.

Held from August 15-16 at IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus, Kuala Belait, the workshop was held for the 18th time in the country.

Over 16 technicians were briefed on the environmental and human health impact, as well as safety and handling issues of RAC units on the first day of the training.

On the second day, participants were assessed theoretically and practically to check their understanding of the material that they were trained on during the course.

The workshop served as a national focal point event for discussion of issues relating to the Montreal Protocol, such as substances that deplete the ozone layer and global warming.

The workshop gave technicians the opportunity to get hands-on practice in the installation and servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning units, and also educated them on the impact of refrigerants categorised as containing ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse chemicals.

The project was part of Brunei Darussalam’s Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) project under the Montreal Protocol.

Facilitating the two-day course was a master trainer from IBTE.

So far, more than 200 technicians from various refrigeration and air-conditioning service companies in Brunei Darussalam have undergone this HPMP project training.

Similar courses will be conducted throughout 2018 in all four districts to cater to RAC technicians from registered RAC service companies that haven’t followed the course yet.

BRITISH Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field had the opportunity to engage with young Bruneian environmentalists during a jungle walk in Tasek Lama Recreational Park, one of the oldest recreational parks in the country.

He was accompanied by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.

The two ministers, accompanied by British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Richard Lindsay, were taken on a jungle walk through Tasek Lama by a group of young Bruneians passionate about the environment.

The minister was delighted to be able to experience first-hand Brunei’s beautiful natural environment.

He was impressed to see the steps taken to protect the jungle habitat for Brunei’s rich biodiversity, and noted how wonderful it was to hear how accessible the jungle is for so many people in their bid to keep healthy and stay close to nature.

After the walk, the minister was introduced to a number of young Bruneians from different environmental youth groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Representatives from BruWild, Green Brunei, SCOT, Reef Check Brunei, Save Kg Ayer, MyActionsforSDGs, Trash4Recycle and CafeHoppers spoke with Mark Field about the work to protect the environment and to help fight climate change.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Governments of Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam are committed to boost bilateral trade by exploring untapped potentials in trade and investment and solid economic cooperation, amid a fluctuating trade figure in the last few years.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the 73rd Independence Day of Indonesia last week, the Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko in his message on trade potentials between both countries shared that bilateral trade exchanges in the last five years (2013-2017) has fluctuated with a significant downward trend since 2015, and in that period the total trade between the two countries experienced a significant decline of 67.94 per cent compared to the same period in 2014.

This, according to the ambassador, is due to the value of Indonesia’s imports which experienced a large decline of 77.88 per cent, especially in oil and gas products.

Last year, Indonesia experienced a surplus of BND49.8 million, with Brunei’s export value at BND50.7 million and imports value amounting to BND100.5 million. Indonesian imports from Brunei Darussalam (84 per cent) consist of mineral fuels while Indonesia’s exports to Brunei consist of machinery and transportation equipment (35 per cent), manufactured products (29 per cent) and food and beverages (20 per cent), according to data provided by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).

Both Brunei and Indonesia are working to address the downward trend and this was also highlighted during the 4th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), from July 19-20 in Jakarta, where both countries underlined the importance for both sides to explore the untapped potentials in trade and investment.

Both countries also underscored the importance of close relationship among private sectors and business communities in supporting common goals in promoting concrete economic cooperation.

The first business meeting was organised on the sideline of the 4th JCBC where business entities of both countries met and shared each other’s potentials, policy and national planning.

The meeting also witnessed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between Sriwijaya Air and Syarikat Kejuruteraan Bumiputera Belait Sdn Bhd for flights between Bandar Seri Begawan and Balikpapan.

As a further step to boost bilateral trade, Indonesia and Brunei plan to hold the second Working Group on Trade and Investment next year to discuss ways to enhance bilateral and trade cooperation.

Through analysis tool provided by the International Trade Centre (Intracen), a United Nations agency providing technical assistance on trade for developing countries, Dr Sujatmiko said they can see some untapped trade potentials for Brunei products to Indonesia such as methanol, machinery parts, and hydraulic power engines and motors, while Indonesia could explore Brunei’s market of wooden furniture, vehicle tyres, paper, oil/gas casing and tubing and palm oil.

In this respect, he said interaction between both business communities will and shall be enhanced and all interested Brunei parties are welcome to conduct business visits and join business exhibitions in Indonesia, mainly the 33rd Indonesia Trade Expo in Tangerang, Indonesia from October 24-28.

Other exhibitions of importance are the Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (INACRAFT) for handicraft industry and Indonesia Infrastructure Week for construction industry. There will also be an exhibition of Indonesian products and culture titled ‘Magnificent Indonesia’ at the Times Square Shopping Centre in Berakas from August 30 until September 2 and a visit of Indonesian business delegations to Brunei in November.

In industrial cooperation, some collaboration worth mentioning are IBIC Sdn Bhd, Indonesian investment in bottled mineral water and a joint venture between Fisherod Enterprise and Indonesian PT Sumatera Budidaya Marineto for the export of hybrid grouper fish in Brunei to Hong Kong at Tanjong Pelumpong in Mukim Serasa.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

WHILE Brunei Darussalam’s population at present is dominated by young people, the number of elderly in the country is rising steadily, bringing concern on whether the country is able to handle the problem this engenders, said Head of the Health Promotion Centre at the Ministry of Health Dr Hajah Norhayati binti Haji Md Kassim.

Dr Hajah Norhayati spoke to the Bulletin after delivering a talk during the launch of the seniors health programme at the Senior Citizens Activity Centre in Tutong (Tutong PKWE Centre) earlier this week.

The proportion of seniors in Brunei in relation to its overall population is expected to grow to more than 15 per cent by 2030, and to more than 30 per cent by 2050, according to figures from the UN Development Programme.

Dr Hajah Norhayati added that growing concern over a country’s ability to address an ageing population has been brought up every now and then at the regional level. In Brunei, the definition for the elderly is “those currently aged 60 and above”. Internationally, this applies to individuals aged 65 and above.

“We know the number of our seniors is increasing, we have evidence of this over the last few years. For us at the Ministry of Health, the concern is whether we are ready to face it, as elderly people tend to have a higher prevalence of suffering from chronic diseases in comparison to the general population,” she said.

Within a time period from 2012 to 2017, the population of Brunei Darussalam has steadily increased from 298,700 (2012) to 403,300 (2013); 407,600 (2014) to 412,400 (2015); and 417,257 (2016) to 421,300 (2017).

In 2016, the life expectancy for males was 80.5 years and 80.8 years for females. (For comparison, this figure was 75.6 years for males and 78.5 years for females in 2011.)

“So we want the elderly who live longer to be as healthy as possible. Even though they might be living with a chronic disease, we want their condition to be under control, we want them to at the least maintain that state and not develop new diseases,” she added.

“But with chronological ageing also comes biological ageing, this cannot be avoided. The body slows down in a lot of ways, and thus the elderly need to do specific things to maintain a good health condition, including not overstressing their bodies as well as not underutilising it. Meaning, it is important to maintain a good physical balance at their age.

“Also, if an elderly person contracts a disease that requires prolonged hospitalisation, this is not good for them as they might get exposed to other diseases in hospital as their immune system is no longer as strong as before.

“At the end of the day, our message is – ‘Prevention is better than cure’. It is important for the elderly to practise a healthy lifestyle. While they tend to not eat as much as they used to when they were younger, they still need food, especially healthy food such as a good amount of fruits and vegetables for their daily diet.”

Dr Hajah Norhayati added that studies show that 86.9 per cent of the elderly in the country do not consume enough fruits and vegetables.

“This is a matter of concern issue, not just for the seniors but for the general Brunei population as well. We did a survey on the general population back in 2015-2016, and what we found was Bruneians – be they children, young adults or the elderly – on average were not consuming enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diets,” she said.

“The recommendation is to take two to three servings of fruits, and two to three servings of vegetables daily.” According to a 2015-2016 survey on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country, it was found that 7.2 per cent of the elderly are smokers, and 19.1 per cent do not exercise regularly or are not physically active.

“Physically, the body deteriorates a bit faster, and for the elderly who are not physically active and staying at home and not getting much social interaction, they lose this important human need for social networking. This can give rise to loneliness and other mental issues as well,” Dr Hajah Norhayati cautioned.

“Thus it is important for seniors to be physically and socially active, as well as mentally engaged. It is proven that elderly individuals who are more mentally engaged, be it through taking part in debates and discussions, tend to be a bit healthier and possess more positive attitudes – this is important.”

|     Hakim Hayat     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) recently introduced its latest additions to the BIBD NEXGEN universe – BIBD BizNet mobile application and QuickPay – at the TechXpo 2018, being held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

The move is part of BIBD’s efforts to support cashless transactions.

Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof launched the two latest BIBD services at the TechXpo 2018.

BIBD said the BIBD NEXGEN universe is a digital platform that connects everyone through mobile-led technologies.

“These new services available now on the platform are catered towards mobility and convenience, aimed to bridge the digital gap between customers and business owners, particularly budding entrepreneurs. This creates a more tech-savvy and cost-friendly business environment, further promoting further ease of doing business while creating a more progressive and pro-business economy,” the bank added.

Besides the direct benefits of going paperless such as having a documented, secured, and digitised economy with cost savings and reducing dependencies on physical cash and receipts, these initiatives, BIBD said support strategies under the Brunei Vision 2035 in promoting the national growth of entrepreneurship hoped to invigorate a more vibrant private sector, create more opportunities and develop greater competitiveness.

|     Izah Azahari     |

NINETY-SEVEN offences were recorded during a Roadblock Weekend Joint Operation conducted in several locations in all four districts on August 18.

In the Brunei-Muara District, 19 compound and docket cases under the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) were recorded while 12 offences were recorded under the Land Transport Department (JPD), three under the Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) and six under the Religious Enforcement Division (RED).

Operations in the Tutong District recorded 18 compound and docket offences under the RBPF and eight offences under the JPD while 25 compound and docket offences under the RBPF were recorded in the Belait District and two compound and docket offences under the RBPF and four cases under the RCED were reported in the Temburong District.

A total of 228 officers and personnel from the Traffic Control and Investigation Department (JSKLL) along with Police District under the RBPF as well as law enforcement agencies including the JPD, the RCED, Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD), the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and the RED participated in the joint operation.

Head of the JSKLL Enforcement Unit Assistant Superintendent of Police Pengiran Omar Ali bin Pengiran Manshor led the joint operation. Meanwhile, Investigation and Traffic Officers within the Police District and officers-in-charge of the police stations led the operation in other districts.

The frequent operations are aimed at providing guidance and awareness on the importance of complying with the laws of Brunei Darussalam as well as encouraging the public to play a proactive role as the eyes and ears of enforcement agencies by channelling information in the pursuit of criminal matters at the grassroots level and to safeguard the country’s harmony, security and prosperity.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

CABINET ministers and government officials yesterday attended a 72 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony at the Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Akar, in conjunction with the 72nd birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, and his spouse, were welcomed by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, in his capacity as patron of the Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque; and Village Head of Kampong Sungai Akar Haji Ramlee bin Mohd Zain, who is also the Chairman of the Village Consultative Council (MPK) of Kampong Sungai Akar (MPK Sungai Akar).

Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof; Acting Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin; and Penghulu of Mukim Berakas Pengiran Haji Ali bin Pengiran Maun were also present.

Co-organised by the MPK Sungai Akar and the Takmir Committee of the Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque, the 72 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony was a special pesambah to His Majesty from the residents of Kampong Sungai Akar and the surrounding residential areas.

In his welcoming address, Mosque Officer of the Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque Imam Haji Syamsul Nizam bin Haji Badar said that the main aim of this ceremony was to fully support His Majesty’s aspirations to make Brunei Darussalam a Zikir Nation.

“This year’s attendance has been very encouraging, with the Khatam participants comprising 168 adults, 73 youth and 55 children from Kampong Sungai Akar and the surrounding residential areas,” he said.

The religious event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Imam of the Rashidah Sa’datul Bolkiah Mosque Haji Muhammad Sa’dullah bin Haji Salleh, followed by the recitation of selected Al-Quran verses. The mass recitation of Ayat-ayat Lazim was led by Haji Muhammad Sa’dullah and Haji Mohd Faiezal bin Haji Zainal, while Doa Khatam was read by a young participant, Darwish bin Haji Faiezal.

The ceremony was further enlivened by a Dikir Marhaban from the Religious Teachers’ Dikir Group of the Islamic Studies Department (JPI), and the presentation of certificates to the Khatam Al-Quran participants by the Minister of Home Affairs.

The event concluded with a recitation of Doa Kesyukuran by Imam Haji Syamsul Nizam.

The religious ceremony is hoped to further enhance the quality of Al-Quran recitation among the congregants of the Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque, while incorporating it into their daily prayer routine.